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RIT St Lawrence University RPI Syracuse UB Binghamton University University of Massachusetts-Boston Union College UVM University at Albany- SUNY SUNY Brockport UWM| Clarkson University | SUNY College at Buffalo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | Buffalo, NY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,603 | 6,470 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #183 | #609 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | buffalostate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,642 | $7,070 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,642 | $17,490 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,016 | $16,716 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,192 | $13,735 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,097 | $8,921 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 88% |
Admission |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,347 | 15,943 | ||
| Admitted | 5,669 | 12,096 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.2% | 75.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 12% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 2.84 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | |||
| SAT Range | 1198/1390 | 960/1190 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $40,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $21,409 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $221 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 51% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 28% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 94% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 3% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | Buffalo State College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- SUNY College at Buffalo is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (6,470 students vs. 3,603 students)
Clarkson vs. Buffalo State College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Buffalo State College?
- Clarkson University is 701.2% more expensive to attend than Buffalo State College for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $7,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 223.9% higher at Clarkson than SUNY College at Buffalo ($56,642.00 vs. $17,490.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College at Buffalo than Clarkson ($13,735 vs. $33,192)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Buffalo are 1.8% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($16,716 vs. $17,016)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than SUNY College at Buffalo (100% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 383.1% larger than aid received SUNY College at Buffalo ($43,097 vs. $8,921)
Clarkson vs. Buffalo State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Buffalo State College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Buffalo State College or Clarkson .
- The average SAT score at Clarkson University (1198) is 297 points higher than at Buffalo State College (901)
- Incoming Clarkson students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Buffalo State College (19)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.96 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Buffalo State College (75.9%)
Clarkson vs. Buffalo State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson or Buffalo State College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Buffalo State College and Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at Clarkson is higher than SUNY College at Buffalo (72% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $30,100 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $40,700)
- SUNY College at Buffalo students graduate with a $5,591 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($21,409 vs. $27,000)
- Buffalo State College graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($221 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/